Storage system for a paint-wet paint roller cover

ABSTRACT

A paint roller cover storage system includes a paint roller cover container sized to store a single paint roller cover. A resealable closure selectively closes the paint roller cover container to form a generally airtight environment such that a paint-wet paint roller cover may be stored—such as overnight—until further painting will occur.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a paint roller, and more particularlyto a resealable storage bag for a paint roller cover.

A paint roller provides effective application of paint over relativelylarge surface areas. The paint roller includes a removable paint rollercover which receives paint for application to a surface. Typically, thepaint roller cover is cleaned which may be a relatively time consumingprocess. Oftentimes, the paint roller cover is discarded after usage.

Disadvantageously, discarding the paint roller cover may be relativelyexpensive. As paint rollers are typically utilized for relatively largesurface areas, it is quite common to paint in multiple sessions, perhapsover a multiple of days. Even when taking a break from painting, apaint-wet paint roller cover may be rendered unusable by paint dryingthereon. Cleaning the paint roller cover for such short breaks istypically more trouble than simply discarding the paint roller cover.

Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a storage system for a paintroller cover which permits storage of a paint-wet paint roller cover forrelatively short time periods without the necessity of cleaning.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A paint roller cover storage system according to the present inventionincludes a paint roller cover container sized to store a single paintroller cover. A resealable closure selectively closes the paint rollercover container to form a generally airtight environment for the singlepaint roller cover.

In use, a paint-wet paint roller cover is inserted into the paint rollercover container and sealed therein by the resealable closure. As thepaint roller cover container creates a generally airtight environment,the paint-wet paint roller cover may be stored—such as overnight—untilfurther painting will occur. Such an arrangement greatly facilitatespainting without the waste associated with disposing of a paint-wetpaint roller cover or the laborious and time consuming process requiredto clean the wet paint from the paint roller cover. The paint rollercover container being flexible permits grasping of the paint-wet paintroller cover after the paint roller cover container is installed tofacilitate removal of the paint-wet paint roller cover from the roller.

Furthermore, by utilizing a paint roller cover container that storesonly a single paint roller cover, the paint roller cover container maybe utilized as part of a kit for sales of the paint roller cover.

The present invention therefore provides a storage system for a paintroller cover which permits storage of a paint-wet paint roller cover forrelatively short time periods without the necessity of cleaning.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various features and advantages of this invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription of the currently preferred embodiment. The drawings thataccompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows:

FIG. 1 is a general perspective view a paint roller for use with thepresent invention;

FIG. 2A is an expanded front view of a paint roller cover container;

FIG. 2B is an expanded side view of the paint roller cover container ofFIG. 2A;

FIG. 2C is an expanded front view of another paint roller covercontainer;

FIG. 2D is an expanded view of a resealable seal of the paint rollercover container;

FIG. 2E is an expanded view of another resealable seal of the paintroller cover container;

FIG. 2F is an expanded view of the resealable seal of FIG. 2E in aflexed open position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 illustrates a general exploded view of a paint roller 12. Thepaint roller 12 includes a handle 14 which supports a roller 16. Theroller 16 receives a removable paint roller cover 18 which is typicallya tubular member with various surfaces which retains a quantity of paintfor application to a surface as generally understood.

Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, a paint roller cover storage system 20includes a paint roller cover container 22 sized to store the paintroller cover 18. Notably, only a single paint roller cover 18 isstorable within the paint roller cover container 22.

The paint roller cover container 22 includes a resealable closure 24mounted adjacent an end segment of the paint roller cover container 22.The paint roller cover container 22 is preferably an elongated plasticbag which is generally rectilinear in shape. Alternatively, the paintroller cover container 22′ includes a circular bottom 26 (FIG. 2B)opposite the resealable closure 24 such that the paint roller covercontainer 22′ closely fits over the cylindrical paint roller cover 18.

The resealable closure 24 selectively closes the paint roller covercontainer 22 and creates a generally airtight environment for a singlepaint roller cover 18 (FIG. 1). The resealable closure 24 preferablyincludes an adhesive flap 30 (FIG. 2D) or a zip-lock type closure 28(FIG. 2E). With the zip-lock type closure 28, the zip-lock may besqueezed open (FIG. 2F) such that the paint roller cover 18 is readilyinserted therein without requiring a user to touch the paint-wet paintroller cover 18.

In use, the paint-wet paint roller cover 18 is inserted into the paintroller cover container 22 and sealed therein by the resealable closure24. As the paint roller cover container 22 creates a generally airtightenvironment, the paint-wet paint roller cover 18 may be stored—such asovernight—until further painting will occur. Such an arrangement greatlyfacilitates painting without the waste associated with disposing of apaint-wet paint roller cover or the significant time required to cleanthe wet paint from the paint roller cover. The paint roller covercontainer 22, being a generally flexible bag, also permits grasping ofthe paint-wet paint roller cover 18 after the paint roller covercontainer 22 is installed thereon to facilitate removal of the paint-wetpaint roller cover 18 from the roller 16 (FIG. 1).

Furthermore, by utilizing a paint roller cover container 22 which storesonly a single paint roller cover 18, the paint roller cover container 22may be utilized as part of a kit for selling the paint roller cover 18.The paint roller cover container 22 not only functions as describedabove for relatively short term storage of a paint-wet paint rollercover 18, but because of the inexpensive nature thereof, also operatesas an inexpensive storage and sale container for the paint roller cover18 itself.

It should be understood that relative positional terms such as“forward,” “aft,” “upper,” “lower,” “above,” “below,” “bottom,” and“top,” and the like are relative terms and should not be consideredotherwise limiting.

It should be understood that although a particular component arrangementis disclosed in the illustrated embodiment, other arrangements willbenefit from the instant invention.

The foregoing description is exemplary rather than defined by thelimitations within. Many modifications and variations of the presentinvention are possible in light of the above teachings. The preferredembodiments of this invention have been disclosed, however, one ofordinary skill in the art would recognize that certain modificationswould come within the scope of this invention. It is, therefore, to beunderstood that within the scope of the appended claims, the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically described. For thatreason the following claims should be studied to determine the truescope and content of this invention.

1. A paint roller cover storage system comprising: a paint roller covercontainer sized to receive a paint roller cover; and a resealableclosure mounted to said paint roller cover container to selectivelyclose said paint roller cover container.
 2. The paint roller coverstorage system as recited in claim 1, wherein said resealable closureincludes a zip-lock closure.
 3. The paint roller cover storage system asrecited in claim 1, wherein said resealable closure includes an adhesiveclosure.
 4. The paint roller cover storage system as recited in claim 1,wherein said resealable closure provides an essentially air-tight sealof said paint roller container.
 5. The paint roller cover storage systemas recited in claim 1, wherein said paint cover roller container is anelongated bag.
 6. The paint roller cover storage system as recited inclaim 5, wherein said elongated bag is manufactured from a clearplastic.
 7. The paint roller cover storage system as recited in claim 5,wherein said elongated bag includes a generally circular bottom oppositesaid resealable closure.
 8. The paint roller cover storage system asrecited in claim 5, wherein said elongated bag is sized to receive onlya single paint roller cover.
 9. A paint roller cover kit comprising: asingle paint roller cover; a paint roller cover container sized tocompletely receive said single paint roller cover; and a resealableclosure mounted to said paint roller cover container to selectivelyclose said paint roller cover container to maintain said single paintroller cover in a substantially air-tight environment.
 10. The paintroller storage system as recited in claim 9, wherein said paint rollercover container is an elongated bag.
 11. The paint roller storage systemas recited in claim 10, wherein said paint roller cover container is agenerally tubular bag.
 12. The paint roller storage system as recited inclaim 11, wherein said generally tubular bag includes a generallycircular bottom opposite said resealable closure.
 13. The paint rollerstorage system as recited in claim 9, wherein said paint roller covercontainer is a generally rectangular shaped bag.
 14. A method of storinga paint-wet paint roller cover comprising the steps of: (1) inserting apaint-wet paint roller cover within a paint roller cover container; (2)grasping the paint-wet paint roller cover through the paint roller covercontainer; and (3) sliding the paint-wet paint roller cover off a rollerof a paint roller; and (4) sealing a resealable closure on the paintroller cover container to form a substantially air-tight environment forthe paint-wet paint roller cover.
 15. A method as recited in claim 14,wherein said step (4) further comprises (a) zipping closed a zip locktype closure.
 16. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein said step (4)further comprises (a) adhering an adhesive flap to the paint rollercover container.
 17. A method as recited in claim 14, further comprisingthe step of: (5) flexing open the resealable closure prior to said step(1) by placing pressure along the length of the zip lock type closure.